Awaiting clearance

In connection with Doug Nye’s article on the Aston Martin 214 coupes at the 1963 Goodwood TT (September issue), a few additional snippets. My father, Fred Harrison, was a member of Stuart Procter’s scrutineering team at that meeting and I recall that the problems started when Fred noticed the distinct lack of clearance between the rear tyres and outer bodywork. It was suggested that some tweaking in that area to improve the tyre/body clearance would solve the problem. Obviously this was not the way that Aston Martin operated and the old excuse, “It was OK at so and so”, was wheeled out.

As father said at the time, if Lotus had faced a similar problem it would have been sorted on the spot. However, Aston would not budge, so enter Stuart Procter…

Geoff Harrison, Ilkley, West Yorkshire